. >> as the faa began furloughing air traffic controllers and the flight delays began. the finger pointing quickly followed. >> as a result of administration's poor planning, i would argue political motives, thousands of people were stuck on tarmacs over the last few days. >> congress had an opportunity but republicans made a choice. and this is a result of a choice they made to embrace the sequester as, and i'm quoting republicans, as a victory for the tea party and a home run. >> if the blame was partisan, the pain was not. long lines and missed connections raised bipartisan concerns with republican and democratic senators asking the transportation secretary and head of the faa how much funding do you need to avoid furloughing air traffic controllers and to keep the contract air traffic control towers open and what could you cut from other accounts to avoid or reduced air traffic controller furloughs and contract closures and there were bipartisan proposed solutions. >> what i believe is there ought to be postponement of these furloughs to give all of us a chance to r